[The Weeping Angel]

[Oboogie]

Why are Americans so bloody stupid is a mystery I'm sure we've all pondered. Well here's an Australian with some answers - only some of which were previously known to me. Informative and entertaining, I thoroughly recommend.

From the description:
"The world constantly looks at the United States and asks one question: "How did they get so dumb?" But the truth is much darker. Americans aren't naturally stupid - their system was meticulously engineered over 200 years to destroy critical thinking.

Today, we’re looking at the "engineered ignorance" of the American public. From importing a 19th-century Prussian military school model specifically to mass-produce obedient factory workers, to the 1950s Red Scare that literally labelled "critical thinking" as Communist propaganda. And the wildest part? America is actively exporting this hyper-narcissistic, tribal dysfunction - from the prosperity gospel to toxic internet culture wars - straight to the rest of the world. If you thought failing test scores were the only issue, you haven’t met their media machine."

[Boiler]

The video seems to have been removed, but it's here.

(and with my professional hat on, just stop the fucking zooming in and out - it looks shit and distracts from the message.)

[Yug]

Local democracy: Freedumb edition.

Some Americans who oppose data centers being built in their communities have learned you can fight city hall — but the battle will wind up in court.

Three cities in Kansas filed lawsuits against their own residents over petitions seeking to ban the controversial Big Tech facilities, according to recent reports...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 42167.html

One defendant, Kimberly Twente of Edgerton, Kansas — which sits about 35 miles southwest of Kansas City, with a population of about 1,924 — called her local government’s move a “scare tactic,” especially the legal demand for “costs, interest and other charges allowable by law.” They were some of the people who signed a petition calling for the centers to be banned and for the entire city to vote on an ordinance.

However, city officials filed suit to stop the measure from appearing on a ballot.

“I don't think anyone was expecting citizens to personally be held liable to a civil lawsuit, which is the bullying and retaliation,” Twente told The Topeka Capital-Journal.

The larger cities of El Dorado and Emporia — both located between Topeka and Wichita, with populations of about 12,780 and 24,137, respectively — also sued their residents for filing petitions under terms of a state law that requires cities to pass ordinances demanded by the signers or let local voters decide.

Spokespersons for all three cities didn't directly respond to inquiries from The Independent about suing their citizens, but an Edgerton government spokesperson said a hearing in the case was set for Thursday....

That country is so fucked up it's unbelievable.

[Youngian]

Georgian Senator Jon Ossoff is the latest hot property as a potential Dem presidential candidate. Certainly knows how to needle the Trump administration and plays well with demographics that put Obama into power. An impressive operator.

[The Weeping Angel]

I've linked to Nick before; for those of you who don't know, he runs a Substack I subscribe to. He also lives in New York and was there when 9/11 happened, and he has this perspective on it nearly 25 years later.

https://nickrafter.substack.com/p/the-f ... Image=true

If the link doesn't work, tell me and I'll sort it.

[Yug]

Hey, Donald. How's your economic warfare going?

The US treasury moved to cut the cost of borrowing on Wednesday only to be swiftly rebuffed by the bond market.

Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary, announced the US would buy back $6bn worth of government debt – treasuries – in an effort to alleviate a selloff in the US bond market that has put pressure on interest rates.

But the size of the deal failed to appease bond buyers and the yield on 10-year treasuries rose to a three-year high.

Rising inflation and uncertainty from the war in Iran have spooked investors from US bonds, what has historically been known to be one of the safest investment vehicles. Treasury yields have been rising, with the yield for the 30-year treasury bond hitting about 5.2% – the highest yield since the 2008 financial crisis...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... nd-buyback

...In August, US government debt for the first time in the country’s history reached $40tn – double the amount of debt from just 10 years ago.

Higher yields could ultimately mean higher interest rates on loans, including mortgages, student debt and car loans, as these loans are often tied to the bond market...

Squeezing the people until the pips squeak might be the rampant capitalism American Way, but how long will the pips acquiesce in being squeezed?

The mango messiah is leading the country towards bankruptcy.

[Killer Whale]

The mango messiah is leading the country towards bankruptcy.

Familiar territory for him, though.

[Abernathy]

I see the Donald is offering a $5000 a head bribe to voters not to give the GOP a good kicking in the November mid-terms.

Illegal, you say? Pah! It'll only cost another trillion dollars.

[Spoonman]

I see the Donald is offering a $5000 a head bribe to voters not to give the GOP a good kicking in the November mid-terms.

Illegal, you say? Pah! It'll only cost another trillion dollars.

If you trust the man whom promised you DOGE refund cheques, cheaper groceries, $2 for a gallon of petrol, a healthcare plan, 600% off prescriptions or wars to be ended in a day, don't be surprised if you take a $5k bribe promise at face value and be called out for being fucking gullible.

[Youngian]

Will it work? Probably, con artists return to their mark for another bite as they get one.

[RedSparrows]

I see the Donald is offering a $5000 a head bribe to voters not to give the GOP a good kicking in the November mid-terms.

Illegal, you say? Pah! It'll only cost another trillion dollars.

If you trust the man whom promised you DOGE refund cheques, cheaper groceries, $2 for a gallon of petrol, a healthcare plan, 600% off prescriptions or wars to be ended in a day, don't be surprised if you take a $5k bribe promise at face value and be called out for being fucking gullible.

'but but but you can't insult us, we're honest voters, straight-talkers, no snowflakes here... but... but... waaaaaaa'

[mattomac]

It will help keep the Maga vote of which it’s about 30% but then he probably had them anyhow. Maybe some Republicans can excuse themselves that they are voting for the candidate. But currently he looks awful on the floating vote and it’s effectively what decides elections nowadays it’s also probably why 2 term consecutive presidents will be unlikely from now on.

[Spoonman]

Oh, and I forgot to add "release the Epstein Files".

[Boiler]

Just when you think that failed state can't get any worse...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqjkejq5750o

The arrest of a suspect followed weeks of what Spivey and residents in Jackson described as relative silence and inaction from local officials.

Combined with the grim nature of Fortune's death and Mississippi's history of racial lynchings, the lack of information about the case had left the community in shock and fear.

[davidjay]

So far this year there have been at least 10 reported hangings of black people in the US, they said, adding that there were more than 70 lynchings documented between 2000 and 2025.

[Tubby Isaacs]

To the amazement of the crankiest parts of Bluesky, Mitch McConnell isn’t dead.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

To the amazement of the crankiest parts of Bluesky, Mitch McConnell isn’t dead.

Only for a given value of 'not dead'.

[Tubby Isaacs]

It counts. Lots of Bluesky wanted the Democrat Governor of Kentucky to go all in the Republicans hiding McConnell's death.